title: Maturation and differentiation of the fetal vasculature.
abstract: Rapid postnatal growth and differentiation of fetal arterial smooth muscle is coordinated by a cacophony of growth factors, one of the most important of which is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In fetal arterial smooth muscle, VEGF influences both the expression and intracellular organization of contractile proteins and helps mediate hypoxic vascular remodeling. Numerous factors influence the expression of VEGF and its receptors, including chronic hypoxia, maternal food restriction, glucocorticoids, and miRNA. Continued study of the coupling between VEGF and transcription factors such as myocardin that govern smooth muscle differentiation, offers great promise for better clinical management of neonates at risk for cardiovascular dysregulation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA. wpearce@llu.edu
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Khorram
mesh_terms: D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D035683:MicroRNAs; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor